The library was quiet.
Peaceful.
Rows upon rows of books lined the shelves, most written by Lin Zhiying and Wang Xianmo during their years in the Beast World. Records of their knowledge. Their discoveries. Their attempts to bring civilization to this wild place.
Sha Chen stood beside one of the shelves, running his fingers along the spines.
Xin Yi was beside him. Closer than she had been in days. Actually engaging. Actually present.
"This one," he pulled out a leather-bound book, "was Mama's favorite. She wrote about different cooking techniques. Preservation methods. How to make food last through winter."
Xin Yi took it carefully. Opened it. Her eyes widened. "This is.…..this is incredible. The detail. The diagrams."
"She was very thorough." Sha Chen smiled softly. "Papa used to joke that she documented everything like she was afraid of forgetting."
